Playhouse offers improv, Brighton Beach Memoirs

SYRACUSE — In April The Central New York Playhouse, 3169 Erie Blvd. E., has two events as it continues to provide entertainment every weekend showcasing local artists. We also have another round of auditions

The Thumbs Upstate Improv Festival, described as one of a kind festival, will run three days, April 4th, 5th, and 6th at the Playhouse. Stand Up Comedy will be showcased on Thursday April 4th starting at 8 p.m. Then improv teams from all over America will descend upon the stage for two nights of fun April 5 and 6th starting at 7 p.m. Also, on Saturday April 6 there are workshops on every improv discipline. Individual nights are $5 but a pass to the whole festival is $10.

The mainstage returns with Brighton Beach Memoirs ( by Neil Simon). This bittersweet memoir evocatively captures the life of a struggling Jewish household where, as his father states "if you didn’t have a problem, you wouldn’t be living here. Directed by Dan rowlands, running for 10 performances April 12-27, Thursdays and Fridays at 8 p.m., Saturdays 6:30 dinner and 8 p.m. Show, Sundays at 2 p.m. It’s $34.95 for dinner and show (Saturday only), $20 show only, $15 show only on Thursdays and Sundays.

Auditions for the October legal drama Inherit the Wind take place April 21, 22, and 23 at 7 p.m. Directer Sharee Lemos has designated most roles open to audition. Auditioners are asked to prepare a short monologue and be prepared to read from the script. For more information visit the playhuse audition page to get character descriptions and monologue suggestions.